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Articles and Advice from our Pet Expert

Are you ready for some football? 6 Ways to Make Super Bowl Sunday a Tail-Wagging Good Time

Every Super Bowl Sunday, we find pet lovers cheering for the underdogs, tailgating with friends, or panting over clever commercials, but a new trend sweeping the nation will help pets and pet parents score a touchdown together on game day.

Inspired by the Animal Planet Puppy Bowl (which is sponsored by BISSELL, Pedigree, Subaru and others), pet owners are including their pets in Super Bowl Sunday festivities—some of which actually center around the pets instead of the game!

Creating the perfect Puppy Bowl party is easy. Here are a few suggestions for creating a tail-wagging-good tailgate:

Game Day
First thing’s first—plan the party. But this year, plan for pets to be in on the festivities by inviting your friends to bring their four-legged family members to join in the fun. Food and a pet-friendly location are a must. Make sure your yard is prepared for your furry guests by latching gates, checking for holes or gaps under the fence, and pet-proofing the house. (Are you looking for more healthy, four-legged fun? If so, DoggyPlayDate.com, can help you connect with other pet owners and schedule pet play dates at parks in your area.)

Tune into the Game
Even if you’re not a big football fan, the Super Bowl is still a must-watch event—but tuning into the Animal Planet Puppy Bowl beforehand will add some warm n’ fuzzy, wet-nosed fun to the game day party. The BISSELL Kitty Half-time Show is also sure to gather a big crowd.
Check them out on Animal Planet Sunday, February 5, 2012 from 3-5 p.m. ET/PT.

A Football Feeding Frenzy
Keeping your two-legged crowd fed and happy with a football field of goodies is no easy task, but don’t forget the pets. Furry friends make great guests and never turn down the fare. This year, your Super Bowl party really can involve a bowl—one where you and your guests mix up a special batch of homemade pet treats while the game plays in the background.
Whatever treats you decide on for your tailgating party, you can avoid unnecessary ruff-ing by picking up food bowls or separating pets when giving out special treats. Make sure there are several water bowls available for thirsty fans.

#1 Fan
Help your guests root for their favorite team with team-colored collars and bandanas for the quarterbacks and linemen, and ribbons for the feisty cheerleaders. Die-hard fans might even consider outfitting their pets in an appropriate team jersey.

Halftime
This year, let halftime be downtime. Let the furry ones play while the adults and children are entertained by the halftime commercials. Or, If you’re lucky enough to live in a warm climate, and aren’t wedged comfortably into the couch, take advantage of halftime as an excuse to work off some of those munchies in a game of catch with your four-legged MVP. Go ahead, throw that ol’ pigskin around!

Touchdown
If you find that after watching the ruff and tumble shelter pups rushing the field in Puppy Bowl VII, you’re yearning for a new animal companion in your life, that's exactly what the folks at Animal Planet had in mind. A word of caution is needed here though. Adopting a dog or cat should never be a spur of the moment decision, as it involves a commitment of 10 to 15 years or more. Make sure you are ready and able to provide a secure, loving home, as well as food and health care for the pet's lifetime.